Chicago Bulls head of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas isn’t giving up. He wants to move guard Zach LaVine and perhaps to a lesser degree, center Nikola Vucevic.
And per Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, the Bulls have not changed their stance. They are still trying to trade LaVine and Vucevic.
Of course, LaVine and the Bulls reportedly have been looking to part ways for nearly a year. But sadly for both parties, no one appears willing to add anything of substance for LaVine, a former All-Star. Same goes for Vucevic, although his name only recently surfaced in trade rumors.
The relationship between LaVine and the Bulls has been described as strained.
According to Jamal Collier of ESPN, LaVine has felt “singled out” during team film sessions. LaVine feels like he has taken too much blame for the Bulls’ struggles.
“LaVine has also felt singled out during film sessions and feels like he has taken too much blame for the team’s losing during his tenure — which has produced one playoff appearance in seven years — despite other roster failings, sources told ESPN,” Collier reported.
LaVine and the Bulls want to part ways, but Chicago hasn’t found a taker for the veteran shooting guard due to his injury history and massive contract.
An NBA source told Hoops Wire that LaVine “would like” to get traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. LaVine, LeBron James and Anthony Davis have the same agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group.
However, the Lakers are not expected to pursue a LaVine trade, sources said. LaVine’s trade value is practically non-existent. He’s coming off surgery and has three years and $138 million left on his contract.
LaVine played in just 25 games in 2023-24. He underwent season-ending right foot surgery in February.
A two-time All-Star and a two-time Slam Dunk Contest champion, LaVine averaged 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.3 blocks in 2023-24 while shooting 45.2% from the field, 34.9% from beyond the arc and 85.4% from the free-throw line.
LaVine signed a five-year, $215 million contract with the Bulls in July 2022 during unrestricted free agency.
A UCLA product, LaVine has career averages of 20.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.3 blocks with the Timberwolves and Bulls. He has a 216-364 record in the NBA.
“He’s never won, he’s done it his way the whole way and never won,” a Bulls source told ESPN. “If he’s interested in winning, he’ll do what’s asked of him. And if he’s motivated to not be here, one way is to come, be compliant and be who he is.”
